The Friend (2024) - Film Review

      **The Friend, 2024**

      **Written and Directed by:** Scott McGehee and David Siegel

      **Starring:** Naomi Watts, Bill Murray, Ann Dowd, Constance Wu, Sarah Pidgeon, Carla Gugino, Noma Dumezweni, Felix Solis, Owen Teague, Bing, Gina Costigan, Josh Pais, Annie Fox, Carrie Vu, Sue Jean Kim, Sarah Baskin, Jess Gabor, Juliet Brett, Seth Barrish, Ian Lithgow, Afsheen Misaghi, and Cloé Xhauflaire.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      The film explores themes of love, friendship, grief, and healing through the story of a writer who takes in a Great Dane previously owned by a late friend and mentor.

      The title, *The Friend*, cleverly conveys a dual meaning, as Scott McGehee and David Siegel adapt Sigrid Nunez’s novel into a somewhat awkward and uneven narrative about man's best friend (Bill Murray) and another best friend—a Great Dane named Apollo (Bing). The film feels distinctly "based on a novel," as numerous characters and subplots feel underdeveloped and treated as mere afterthoughts.

      If you are hoping for a focus on the canine aspect, you may need to manage your expectations regarding his screen time. The core of the story centers on Iris (Naomi Watts), an old friend and former lover entrusted to care for the dog after the death of Walter, an accomplished writer and university professor who took his own life due to personal turmoil. Walter's history of relationships with his students has created complications in a more cautious, modern context. The film presents him as a well-meaning person, yet it glosses over the darker implications of his past without delving into them. This avoidance of uncomfortable truths, contrasted with the portrayal of those around him living free from contemporary social anxieties, is surprising and refreshing. There’s a need for a deeper exploration of Walter’s past, though it avoids casting him as purely virtuous.

      Iris and Walter shared a close bond, but Walter later insisted that taking their relationship further was a mistake. Known for his multiple marriages and relationships, he maintained a special connection with Iris, leading to jealousy among his ex-partners. At the time of his death, he was married to Barbara (Noma Dumezweni), a woman he seemed to love, but the responsibility for Apollo has now fallen to Iris, which is problematic since she isn't particularly fond of dogs and faces pressure from her landlord, who enforces a no-pets policy.

      Even before a pivotal therapy session clarifies the relationship between Iris and Apollo (who is also dealing with the loss of his owner), the film's metaphor is so overt it almost feels excessive. The nearly two-hour runtime lacks sufficient content, even though Naomi Watts gives a commendable emotional performance and shares an endearing chemistry with her canine co-star. This dynamic alone, however, isn't enough to justify the lengthy runtime.

      The movie also introduces other characters: wives (Carla Gugino), a daughter (Sarah Pidgeon), and rude friends who might take Apollo off Iris's hands. Additionally, Iris's own life as a lecturer and writer, along with the task of compiling Walter’s final book amidst public controversies following his suicide, serves as background noise to the central theme of pet-bonding. Bill Murray appears for about five minutes while alive, and the only truly captivating scene occurs in a segment where he isn’t alive.

      *The Friend* seems to have originated as an attempt to deconstruct typical storytelling tropes and characterizations, but this idea is largely abandoned. Ultimately, it presents a simplistic narrative about closure between a woman and her dog, thankfully avoiding excessive sentimentality. Nevertheless, everything surrounding them feels underdeveloped, making it clear that honoring one friend isn't sufficient.

      **Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★**

      Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society. He is also the Editor of Flickering Myth Reviews. Visit here for new reviews and follow on BlueSky or Letterboxd.